The incredible unaging triathlete

The incredible unaging triathlete

January 14th, 2012

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Here’s a pretty graphic illustration, via Toronto physiotherapist Laura McIntyre, of the importance of lifelong physical activity:

It’s from a new study freely available at The Physician and Sportsmedicine that took detailed measurements of 40 masters athletes between the ages of 40 and 81, and found a surprising lack of age-related muscle loss:

This study contradicts the common observation that muscle mass and strength decline as a function of aging alone. Instead, these declines may signal the effect of chronic disuse rather than muscle aging.

 Click here for original - The incredible unaging triathlete

Positive Self Talk

I am currently starting up a new group, training for a triathlon in April 2012.  Many are trying distances they have never done or they are totally new to the sport.  During a recent Swim Clinic, I looked over the water and saw many "deer in the headlight" looks back.  "I am doing nothing right", "this feels weird", " I can't do that", "this is hard", "I'm so slow" are all comments I heard.  With all those negative statements, I met all of them with positive ones, "You can do it", "focus", "your doing great", "great job" and more.  As a coach, I always build up, but many people today are just not use to being built up.

With a world full of "I can't" or "you can't", talking positive to yourself and those around you is critical.  The most important, is what you say too yourself.  You listen to yourself more than anyone.  Driving, waiting in line, laying in bed, just about everywhere, you are in your head talking/thinking.  All this talking should be put to good use, dont wait, start now!  Be happy, up beat, and be positive!  Woooo Hooo!! If what you say to yourself directly influences your attitude and thoughts, make them positive.  Really, do you want to be a downer.  Then dont be, its up to you.

Its very simple to have a great outlook on life when you talk positive.  My grandmother use to tell me that my first decision every  morning was the most important. Before my feet ever hit the ground I decided to have a good day or a bad one.  After making that decision, it was up to me to keep it or change it.  Who would want  to have a bad day?  It happens all the time,  the car that cut you off, a unkind word, someone being rude, and you change your mind.  Why do that?  Its up to you to stick to your decision, you know, the one that's the most important one you will make all day.  Meet lifes demands with a smile and kind word.  You will be amazed at how fast you change and it rubs off on those around you.

The brain can not, not do something.  All it can do, is not do or not do. For example, "I dont want to fail", the brain hears "fail". "I don't want to quit" the brain hears "quit".  Talk to your self correctly and positive.  "I am a success", "I am Loved", "I win", "I am good enough", "I am strong"  Be passionate about being positive and change your life perspective.

So start now, dont wait for change, make it happen.  Replace old ineffective talk with positive, self lifting, positive talk. Give it a try, smile, see the greatness in everything, and watch as happiness sneaks into your life.

#1 Most Important Thing For Your Health and Fitness

I recently asked this question to some athletes: “What do you guys think is the #1 most important thing for your health and fitness?”

***Some of the responses:  Cardio, mentally focused & driven, nutrition, Consistency and balance.

All of these do play a role in your health and fitness, but there is a very important one that almost all of us over look.  It affects everything we do, and directly impacts our training, attitude and most importantly our health.  The #1 thing we can do for our health and fitness is SLEEP!

We all know we need to sleep, and hear all the about getting eight hours.  We really don’t need that do we?  YES we do!  Did you know that sleep deprivation causes slower reaction time than drinking?  Wow, the guy next to you driving on less than 8 hours sleep is a bigger threat to you than a night on the town with friends.  Lack of sleep is serious, and does not get the attention it needs in our sport and our everyday lives.

Lack of sleep has been linked to diabetes, lower metabolism, heart disease, poor immune system functions, and little if no recovery from training.  Over training is due to the lack of rest, and SLEEP!  Our bodies recover, deal with stress, and rebuild while at rest.  Cutting this short, will ultimately lead to injury, sickness, weight gain , and more.  The lack of 7-9 hours of sleep has also been directly linked to lower levels hormones, and issues with blood sugar.  With the lack of sleep directly linked to the bodies ability to process glucose, you can see were this will impact your nutrition.  Ever notice when you are up late and tired, you crave sweets, chips and everything you should not eat.  Lack of sleep triggers the body to respond as if you are in crises, it immediately wants to conserve and store energy.   Hormones trigger your appetite to increase and your inability to feel full, which causes over eating.

With all your hard work you can really do a number on yourself if you don’t get enough sleep.  Think about all the hours training, down the drain, due to injury, poor mental focus, poor reaction time, getting sick, all due to not sleeping.  Guess when this is going to happen, just as you are trying to peak in your training. 

Sleep is over looked in our sport and in our society as a whole.  We consider ourselves health and fitness nuts.  So, the most important question for your training and long term health is “how much sleep did you get?”

Coach Sean

#1 most important thing for your health and fitness

Quick question... 

What do you guys think is the #1 most important thing for your health and fitness?? 

 post comments with your thoughts.

 

comments off   Coach Sean Face Book Page

Kimberly Baker Cardio

 Monica Fandrich Hobbs The first thing that comes to mind is to be mentally focused & driven, and the next thing that I think of is nutrition. We need to be properly fueled to be able to perform & be healthy.

Jim Connolly Diet. What you put in your body :)

Rodney Wagner It all comes down to nutrition. If you don't eat right, your body's functions can be affected causing dehydration, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, loss of muscle tissue, loss of soft tissue elasticity, reflexive reactions decrease, etc etc etc. And, that's before you even add the stressors of working out on top of that.

Randy Pacheco Consistency.

Andrien Wang Consistency and balance.

Dawnery Vargo Mental focus...if you have that, the rest will follow.


 All of these are great and have a place in your health and fitness, but which one is #1?
.... lets see if we have any other ideas